2021 California Concours d’Lemons – Photos and Winners

The Concours d’Lemons California came roaring back from quarantine with a field full of the worst cars imaginable. From a chop top KV Mini ! To a 1969 Toyota Corolla Wagon that was more rust than wagon the show offered much needed relief to the expensive and often pretentious Monterey Auto Week. Self proclaimed Concours “Head Gasket” Alan Galbraith proclaimed, “This is our biggest and dumbest show yet. The cars are truly terrible and everyone is having a great time at the show.” Griot’s Garage offered winners in each category a car care product gift basket that most sorely needed. eBay Motors gave class winners a $100 gift card and the coveted “Worst of Show” winner a $700 gift card, which in most cases would double or triple the value of the cars involved. 

Daniel Shanahan’s 1958 VW “Horse” took home the “Worst of Show” honors. Basically a horse fashioned from an oil barrel loosely fastened to a VW chassis it was built by a VW dealer out of a 1958 VW Bug to promote car sales. The Driver/Rider sits in the saddle, steers with the bridle and brakes with the stirrups. It is VERY prone to wheelie, hard to control and insanely dangerous. Dennis sold it at the show and is donating all of the proceeds to a cancer charity.

Worst of Show – 1958 VW Horse, Daniel Shanahan, Sebastapool, CA
Rust Belt American Junk – Ford – 1980 Ford Fiesta, Tyle Gange, Oakland, CA
Rust Belt American Junk – GM – 1946 Chevy 1.5 Ton Truck, Mathew Morillo, Pacific Grove, CA

Rust Belt American Junk – Mopar – 1994 Dodge Caravan, Linas Violeta, Scotts Valley, CA

Rust Belt American Junk – Other – 1975 PPV Pedal Car, Jeff Niles, Salinas, CA

Unmitigated Gaul – 1963 Facellia, Dana Shatts, Torrance, CA

Needlessly Complex Italian – 1969 Auto Bianchi, Greg Smedsrud, Battle Lake, MN

Kommunist & Korean – 2005 Hyundia Elantra, Karl Deerdorf, San Lius Obisbo, CA

Swedish Meatballs – 1984 Volvo 245, Eric Ebberoth, Seaside, CA

Soul Sucking Japanese Appliance – 1967 Honda Sport 800, Matt Spielberg, Castro Valley, CA

Rueful Britania – 1970 Austin Healey Sprite, Tommy O’Brien, Aptos, CA
DerSelfSatisfiedKrautenWagen – 1969 VW Bus, John O’Leary, Seaside, CA
Slightly Better Than a Go-kart – 1973 KV Mini One, Steven Mandell, Claremont, CA

Best Back Seat – 1966 Corvair Limo, Jim Asher, Oakland, CA

Driving on a Prayer – 1969 Toyota Corolla, Anthony Pagels, Salinas, CA
Sight for Sour Eyes – 2005 Mini, Randy Johnson, Pacific Grove, CA
Ecological Disaster – 1960 Studebaker Champ, Don Pereira, Gilroy, CA
Chronic Dick Teague Syndrome – 1977 AMC Pacer, Jim Wright, San Jose, CA

Participation – 1981 Chrysler Imperial, Will Hughes, San Jose, CA